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NORWALK, Conn. - The 16th Annual Ian James Eaccarino Memorial 9-Mile Race will step off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk, said Ginger Katz, CEO and founder of The Courage to Speak Foundation.

The event is promoted by the Lightfoot Running Club.

Ginger and her husband, Larry, have been members of the Lightfoot Running Club for over 30 years. The race is dedicated to their son, Ian Eaccarino, who passed away after a drug overdose. The 9-Mile Race is dedicated to memory of Ian, who worked at the beach the summer before he died and planted many of the trees that are now aligned with this beautiful beach.

The Courage to Speak Foundation is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to save lives by empowering youth to be drug free and parents to communicate effectively with their children about the dangers of drugs. Over the past 17 years, Ginger and Larry together have presented Ian’s story to hundreds of thousands of people across the country and have been recognized on a state and national level for their work.

The Courage to Speak Foundation has developed drug prevention curricula, taught in Connecticut schools and beyond, and Courage to Speak - Courageous Parenting 101 a free course offered in English and Spanish that educates parents on how to keep their children safe from drugs which has been evaluated and recommend by Yale University.

The sponsors for the race include The Lightfoot Running Club, Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department and Booth Financial Associates. More sponsors are needed, organizers said.